I&P finances its first company in Zimbabwe

Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P) is proud to announce its first investment in Zimbabwe as part of I&P Digital Energy. This funding marks a significant step forward in promoting access to affordable and modern energy in sub-Saharan Africa.

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First financing in Zimbabwe: NeedEnergy

Founded in 2002, Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P) began its activities in French-speaking Africa with its first loan to CAMED, a mutual health insurance company in Mali, marking the start of a commitment to high-impact African SMEs. Over the years, I&P has gradually widened its field of action, first with a strategic focus on West Africa with Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal, but also the Sahel, by supporting companies in countries such as Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea and Niger, and then by strengthening its presence in English-speaking countries such as Ghana and Nigeria. More recently, I&P continued this expansion into southern Africa with its first investment in Zimbabwe in NeedEnergy, a company specialising in smart, clean energy solutions using artificial intelligence and machine learning to meet Africa's growing energy needs. Founded in 2019, the company develops an energy management platform that enables users to monitor their energy consumption in real time, manage distributed electricity networks and facilitate energy trading between microgrids and end users.

NeedEnergy has also been rewarded for its innovation by being a finalist in the Start Up Energy Transition Award in 2025. It has also taken part in acceleration programmes such as Techstars Energy Accelerator in 2023 and Creative Destruction Lab, reinforcing its commitment to smart, sustainable energy solutions for the African continent. Find out more about the company

This first financing in Zimbabwe is part of the I&P Digital Energy programme, which aims to support high-potential companies offering sustainable and accessible energy solutions in sub-Saharan Africa. Funded by the European Union and implemented by the French Development Agency, the programme is being deployed by local I&P teams and Gaia Impact Fund, a specialist in impact investment in renewable energy in Africa and Asia.

A strategic synergy for energy innovation in Africa

The partnership between Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P) and Gaia Impact Fund is a perfect illustration of the complementary nature of two impact investment structures:

• As a pan-African impact investor, I&P has expertise in financing and supporting African SMEs. Its generalist approach enables it to operate in a range of strategic sectors, including agriculture, health, education and energy. Its role is to provide financial resources, strategic support and a network to help businesses structure themselves and develop sustainably.
• Gaia Impact Fund is an investment fund specialising in the renewable energy sector. Thanks to its in-depth expertise in energy technologies and business models adapted to African markets, it identifies the most innovative and impactful solutions. Its sector expertise ensures that the companies financed benefit from technical and strategic support tailored to their specific challenges.

This partnership therefore makes it possible to combine I&P's experience in investment and entrepreneurial development with Gaia Impact Fund's technical and sectoral expertise, creating a framework conducive to the emergence and growth of innovative companies in the field of renewable energy in Africa.